After the season Chelsea have had, you would have expected Eden Hazard to give anything for a quiet life. Perhaps a little countryside break to take stock, when the schedule allows, or even one of those writerly retreats in Le Marche where people aren’t supposed to talk to each other for a week. No chance. The reigning Footballer of the Year – yes, the Mill had forgotten that too – would drop it all to propel himself into the thoroughly tiresome soap opera that is Real Madrid. That will disappoint Paris Saint-Germain, who desperately need reinforcements to maintain their tenuous grip at the top of Ligue 1; Hazard is attracted to the notion of working with Zinedine Zidane, which would certainly be a partnership with a pleasing number of “Z”s, and would only consider upping sticks if La Liga’s magpies came calling. They’ve the small matter of a transfer ban to surmount first, but what’s a trifling matter like that?

More agonising in the short term is the vexing decision that John Terry faces. Apparently, he is minded to turn down a big-money move to China in favour of the mere pence on offer in Qatar or Major League Soccer. In pole position to take Chelsea’s captain, leader, legend are Gianfranco Zola’s al-Arabi, and we can only hope they at least provide some sort of meal allowance out there.

Anyone else chasing
a final paycheque
a one-off chance to develop the beautiful game in an emerging country? Michael Carrick may have his gimlet eye on a move from Manchester United, according to one report, with contract moves stalling. And he’s not too fussy – while other Premier League clubs are keen, he would also consider taking the hit of a move to North America or the Middle East. The door at Old Trafford promises to be a revolving one this summer: United are keen on the 22-year-old Braga winger Rafa Silva – although West Ham are pretty eager too, and there’s no guarantee that the London club wouldn’t win a straight fight at the current rate of knots.

Could there be a high-profile managerial departure from the Premier League soon? Tony Pulis is reportedly on the brink of leaving West Brom at the end of the season, with Saturday’s FA Cup exit at Reading having only added to the standard grumbles about the style of football he adopts. It’s likely that both parties will look to go in a different direction – but first of all, he’s hellbent on maintaining his record of never being relegated.

Elsewhere there is speculation that Pep Guardiola’s modestly low-profile move to Manchester City will give rise to a domino effect of managers among Europe’s elite, with Juventus keen on snaring Manuel Pellegrini if – as is not especially likely – Chelsea manage to lure Massimiliano Allegri into their hot seat.

In more news from the dugout, a deal to save Boltonwas agreed this week with a Dean Holdsworth-led consortium and one of the first items on the to-do list might be to get shot of Neil Lennon if he can’t perform the mother of all contortions and keep them in the Championship. The replacement of choice would be karaoke’s Phil Brown, no stranger to the Reebok Stadium, who will draw the crowds for his live half-time team-talks as long as he can be prised away from a deeply reluctant Southend.

Back on the pitch, Sunderland are the latest club to have taken a fancy to Gent’s Laurent Depoitre, although they might need to hope their parachute payments are enough to rustle up an attractive offer for the goalscoring forward. Swansea and Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have been scouting the Anderlecht striker Stefano Okaka, who those with keen memories might remember spent time on loan with Fulham in 2011.